I had the pleasure of interviewing Missy Elliott (silent scream) and her latest protégé Sharaya J, earlier this year, for JET magazine online and I had to ask her the following obligatory question: What do women have to do to get back on top in hip hop? In light of yesterday’s post about Melissa Harris-Perry and Jean Grae’s discussion about why women’s voices are still necessary in hip-hop, I felt it only right to dig in my archives and publish Missy’s answer. She kept it relatively brief (because it really is a complicated saga) but here’s what she said:

I think it’s always been hard for women in hip-hop, honestly, from the jump. It might not have seemed like it because it was so many out at one time [sic]. There was a time when at least two people can come out [at the same time] and people will start to embrace that again. I think it just takes getting out there and showing people that you have talent and that you can do just as good as the guys can do it. It’s a lot of girls out there right now, to be honest. But it’s just hard. We’re in that time where it’s that tug-of-war to try to get them on top.

I think that’s why we’re going to be very careful [with Sharaya]. I want to make sure she grows at a certain pace and not just blow up then you don’t hear from her anymore. I said the one thing that she would have to do is to make people love her as an artist and not just for a record because that’s another thing – people loved the artist back in the day, and now it’s half the time, you hear a record and you might know the record but don’t know anything about the artist, so that’s important too because once people feel like they know you, your vibe, you got a story and you got a movement, then all those things are going to matter.

But I don’t know. I really wish I could call up Jesus and ask him [laughs]. I wish I knew exactly what needs to be done for women to get back on top. But I think it will happen because everything comes full circle. When you think about it, it’s not just women in hip-hop. You think about, there hasn’t been any R&B guy singer groups. There hasn’t been any R&B girl groups. It’s a lot of things missing out here right now, but I think we’re going to be in that transition where the female emcee will be back like it was, and all the other different things and elements out there from the R&B groups to whatever.

She probably had to take the political route but again, it’s complicated. I’ll come back when I get my thoughts together, with my own perspective.

I’m super late but come out tonight if you can, I’ll be moderating a talk back following the play. See below for info: New York, NY- Homage 3:Â IllmaticÂ tells the coming-to-being story of an artist who must evolve or disappear. A tribute to the rapper NaSâ€™Â ILLMATIC, Homage 3:Â IllmaticÂ comes out the spirit of the classic album and […]

I told myself that I would write every day, even when I didn’t want to…even if it was a sentence. It’s rainy and retrogradey and sucky outside. But such is life. Despite the gray, be inspired and still choose a happy day. *Taking my own advice*

Starrene Rhett Rocque is a New York City-based entertainment and lifestyle journalist and author who enjoys telling the stories of people who are hiding in plain sight. Her award-winning website, GangStarrGirl.com, focuses on women in hip-hop, pop-culture, beauty, travel and other lifestyle interests like pole dancing. Most people discover that upon reading her quirky musings […]
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